Washing machine



May 28, 1935. w. v. oRR

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4 Claims.

This invention relates to Washing machines and has for its object the provision of a simple and compact washing machine of the oscillatingdasher and swinging-wringer type, which can be made readily and cheaply by large-scale produstion methods; which can be easily assembled; wherein the operating mechanism can be tested and adjusted before the addition of the tub and its appurtenances; wherein a new and improved arrangement shall be provided for driving the wringer; while further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In vthe drawing I have shown an illustrative embodiment of my invention wherein Fig. l is a side elevation of a complete washing machine, partly in section, containing my improvements; Fig. 2 is a `vertical sectional view through the working parts of Fig, 1 drawn to enlarged scale; and Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figs. 1 and 2.

My improved washing machine is of the type comprising an upright tub I having in its bottom 2 an upright rock-shaft 3 carrying a suitable dasher 4 which is oscillated vigorously by a suitable mechanism; and also having an upright pillar 5 at one side carrying at its upper end a suitable wringer 6 mounted on a swinging joint at 1 so as to be adjustable about a verticalaxis, and operable in either direction at any position by mechanism controlled by a suitable handle 8. In the present embodiment the tub I is located on top of a lower casing I0 in which is housed the motor II and gear-box I2. According to my invention this gear box consists of an elongated pan having a substantially horizontal bottom I3 and integral side-walls I4, I4, the latter terminating at the top in a sealing-flange I5. By means of suitable ears I6, I6 three in number this box is 40l fastened to the top flange I1 of the bottom lcasing I0 and after the gearing devices have been installed therein, it is capped with a rigid cover I8 tightly bolted thereto. Formed in the bottom plate I3 beneath the center of the tub is a vertical aperture I9 concentric with which there is formed in the cap Ilan opening to which is bolted a plate 2| having integral therewith a packing-box 22. Formed at the upper end of this box is a flange 23 surrounding an externallythreaded shoulder 24. The bottom 2 of the tub is formed at its center with an elevated portion 25, apertured for the reception of the shoulder 24 to 'which is then applied a nut 26 by which the parts are closely bound together, the tub held in place and leakage prevented. Threaded into the top of the packing box 22 is a gland-nut 21 and journaled inside this box and traversing the gearbox I2 is the vertical rock-shaft 3 to which the dasher 4 is removably applied.

Formed in the bottom wall of the plate I3 just outside the outline of the tub I is a vertical cylindrical socket 30, the cover I8 being formed with a companion larger socket 3I above and coaxial therewith. Joumaled in these sockets is a hollow sleeve 32, having an enlarged end 33 1'0 located in the upper socket, and surrounded just below the enlargement by an eccentric 34 which is tightly keyed thereto. Embracing this eccentric is a yoke 35, held in place by a flat circular plate I 36 fastened to the bottom of the eccentric. Pro- 15 jecting horizontally from this yoke is a toothed rack 31 meshing with a pinion 38 carried by the shaft 3 and held in meshing-engagement with said pinion by means of a suitable stirrup 39. In the present embodiment this stirrup is pivoted 20 on a kind of cage 40 surrounding the shaft and having 4a neck 4I projecting through the aperture IS to enable adjustment from the outside.

The socket 30 terminates below in a reduced joumal-bearing 42 and the socket 3l terminates 25 above in a reduced journal-bearing 43 in which bearings are rotatably mounted the upright shaft 44 which project loosely and freely through the bore of the sleeve 33 so that the sleeve has its bearing entirely on its exterior. Slidably splined 30 on the shaft 44 inside the socket 3| above this `sleeve is a clutch-spool 45 operated by a shifting handle 46 mounted in the wall of the socket and formed with clutch-teeth 41 adapted to engage notches formed therefore in the enlarged end 33 35 of the sleeve. Secured to the upper end of the shaft 44 by means of a universal joint 48 is the drive-shaft 49 which operates the wringer and is housed in the pillar 5. Tightly secured to the lower end of the shaft 44 is a worm gear 50 mesh- 40 ing with a worm 5I carried by the horizontal shaft 52 provided with the belt-wheel 53 which is driven from the motor II by the belt 54. The bottom face I3 of the gear-box is formed with a depending skirt 55 to which is attached the oil-pan 56 45 surrounding this Worm and worm-gear. Oil for the latter is introduced by removing the screw 51. The worml always runs in oilwhich also lubricates the lower bearings of the shaft 44. Due to its pan-like construction the box I2 can be packed 50 with a large quantity of grease sumcient to last for years. An oil-hole 58 at the lower end of the pillar serves to lubricate the bearing 43 and any excess at this` point merely runs into the gearbox and any excessive amount of oil in the worm 55 gear compartment of the gear-box is returned to the upper compartment thereof during the operation of the machine by way of the helical groove cutin the shaft M. All the gearing is introduced and adjusted before the tub is applied. Due to the way the eccentric is mounted, large tolerances are permissible, and all parts are readily interchangeable so that the machine is cheap to make,v

claim is:

1. In washing machine mechanism, in combination, a gear-box, a hollow sleeve traversing the same and journaled in the walls thereof, an eccentric surrounding and fastened to said sleeve, a shaft journaled in said gear-box independently of said sleeve and passing loosely therethrough, a rack operatively connected to said eccentric, a driving element for said shaft, and means for` coupling said shaft to said sleeve in rotating relation.

2. In a washing machine mechanism, in combination, a lubricant retaining gear-box, a hollow sleeve traversing the same and journaled in the walls thereof, an eccentric surrounding and fastened to said sleeve, a shaft journaled in said gear-box independently of said sleeve and loosely passing therethrough, oscillatory gearing operatively connected to said eccentric, a driving ele- Owing to the complete housing of the' ment for said shaft, means associated with said shaft for supplying lubricant to said hollow sleeve during the operation of the shaft, and means for coupling said shaft to said sleeve in rotating relation.

3. In a washing machine mechanism, in combination, a lubricant retaining gear-box having a partition wall dividing the same into upper and lower compartments, a hollow sleeve journaled in the walls of said gear-box, an eccentric surrounding and fastened to said sleeve, a shaft journaled in said gear-box independently of said sleeve and passing loosely therethrough, oscillatory gearing operatively connected to said eccentric, driving means for said shaft, means associated with said shaft operative during the rotation thereof for transferring lubricant from one compartment to the other of said gear-box, and means for coupling said shaft to said sleeve in rotating relation.

4. In a washing machine mechanism, in combination, a lubricant retaining gear-box having a partition wall dividing the same into upper and lower compartments, a hollow sleeve journaled in the walls of said gear-box, an eccentric surrounding and fastened to said sleeve, a shaft journaled in said gear-box independently of said sleeve and passing loosely therethrough, oscillatory gearing operatively connected to said eccentric, driving means for said shaft, means associated with said shaft operative during the rotation thereof for transferring lubricant from the lower to the upper compartment of said gearbox, and means for coupling said shaft to said sleeve in rotating relation.

WILLIAM V. ORR. 

